Obscenely high and unsustainable policing costs. OPP bills are destroying communities its officers are supposed to protect. Apparent self-interest is cloaked in the guise of public safety needs. Where is the political outrage while OPP costs continue to climb? Who is going to bring policing costs in this province under control?

The Township of Admaston-Bromley passed its 2016 budget with a tax rate increase of 3.28 per cent on May 19.

The municipal levy totals $1,774,445, which is an 8.9 per cent increase from 2015.

Mayor Michael Donohue praised staff and council for their work and is pleased with the budget.

“I feel this is a very responsible budget, there were certainly some fiscal challenges that were beyond the control of this municipality that lead to some increase,” said Donohue. “There is no question in my mind that this is a very responsible and reasonable budget and one the municipality can be very happy with.”

The average assessment increase for 2016, which includes all classifications, is 5.3 per cent.

The County of Renfrew levy is $1,039,632 an increase of 4.7 per cent compared to last year and the education levy is $841,133 a two per cent increase from 2015.

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) cost, which makes up 13 per cent of the total budget, is $386,000, a 26 per cent increase from 2015. Donohue said the rising OPP cost was an enormous challenge for the council.

“Our concern is in no way with the OPP policing,” said Donohue. “Our concern is with the province and the OPP at large. We have very good and effective policing.”

He said there is some traction being made with those who are raising concern over the costing increase.

The roads budget represents 43 per cent of the total budget at $1,286,050, an 11 per cent increase from last year.

“This is up significantly, the rehabilitation of Pucker Street explains a great deal of the increase,” said Donohue.

The Pucker Street construction (four kilometres) includes reconstruction, surface treatment and road widening for active transportation starting from Holmes Road. The total cost of this project is $255,000; the Ontario Communities Infrastructure Fund covers $79,682; the Canada 150 Communities Infrastructure Funds covers $127,500 and the municipal portion is $47,818.

The Admaston-Bromley Public Library is receiving $17,000; a six per cent increase in funds and it represents 0.5 per cent of the total budget.

Donohue commended library officials for always utilizing all of its funds, calling it the “little library that can.”

The recreation funds allocation to Douglas and Admaston remained unchanged at $6,000 each.

The municipality has three recreation agreements; Renfrew costs $21,500, Bonnechere Valley is $2,300 and with Cobden for $2,000.

The waste management budget is $258,290, which is a 4.6 per cent decrease from last year. They are currently waiting for pre-approval of an application for an environmental compliance approval for the landfill expansion.

“It’s a very lengthy process for expansion,” said Donohue.

The municipality currently has a four-year life remaining at the landfill and the expansion will extend that to 30 years.

The total fire budget for this year is $194,650 or 6.5 per cent of the total budget.